Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-01
A CENTENNIAL.
A NOTED IvExr IN THE cocKApE
CITY.
Tue Hundredth Anniversary OF Peters
burg lodge, No. IS. Of kssens-
sketch OF the Lodge.

fCorrespondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.l
PETERSBURG, VA, October 81, 1887.
The centennial anniversary of Peters
burg Lodge, No. Is, Ancient Free and
Accented Mssons, was celebrated to-
NIGHT with ceremonies becoming the
occasion. All the Masons in the city
participated, and Right Worthy Past
District Deputy Grand Masters were
present as follows from the Ninth Ma
sonic district William L. Spotswood,
No. 3; Robert H.. Johes, Jr., No. 3
John c. Armistead, No. 3; James l..
Cook, No. 10 +; Benjamin Harrison, No.
124 John +. Farmer, No. l24 Mann
Page, No. 1879.
The Masonic fraternity met at Ma
sonic Hall at 8 o'clock and marched,
under charge of District Deputy Grand
Mister John T. Parham as chief marshal
and Roger Atkinson, p. c. Hoy, Il. b.
Shelburn, Joseph Williams, and W.
u. NORRIS as assistants, to the banquet
hall.
The Masons of Petersburg celebrated
this anniversary with the enthusiasm
incident to an event that occurs but
once in a mans lifetime, and it is hardly
necessary to say that they did proper
honor 10 the occasion.
CENTENNIAL SKETCH or PETERSBURG
LODGE.
In honor of the centennial celcbra-
ton brief but compact sketch OF the
lodge was prepared by Mr.. George w.
Hall, who was appointed hlstonGrapher
for the occasion. In the great fire OF
1915 which swept over aud destroyed
large part of the city the charter and
records Of the lodge down to 1894 were
burned, and consequently much OF the
material Necessary to full and com
plete history is wanting. From this
sketch il is learned that Petersburg
Lodge, No. 10, WAS first chartered by
the Grand Lodge Of Scotland May 6,
1856, and 10y the Grand Lodge OF Nlr-
GINA October 90, 1877. On the latter
day the lodge was only repre-
scented by W. Ii. Harrison. The
fist report with membership at
tacbed was made to the Grand Lodge
Of Virginia on the Sth Of December,
1900, with Walter Ferguson as master
and about eighteen members The |
lodge at that time met on the fourth |
Thursday of every month in the house |
of John AIbuckle. In 1901 they met |
in the house Of Thomas Lawton, aud |
IN 1902 they moved to MasOns' Hall. |
In 1904 the last report was made to the !
Grand Lodge, at which time Edwin |
Beasley was master. In 1903, the |
lodge having failed 10 make any re-
turns at all, it was declared dormant,
and so it remained until January 10,
1881, when a few of the old members
met and resuscitated it by application
for charter for Petersburg Lodge, No.
-, naming John Pollard as master.
Thence onward to the present its meet
incs have been regular and its work
active. aud to-day it is one Of the finest
lodges in the State. Among its officers
and members have been many of the
foremost men Of Petersburg, and the
good it has done is almost incalcuiable.
The BANQUET AND ToAsTs.
The banquet was served in Library
Hall, and was prepared by Mr. Julius
Liebert. who has no equal here as
caterer to the inner man. The hall
was beautifully decorated, and seats
were arranged ioT three hundred guests.
They were all occupied. The tables
goanod beneath the substantials and
dehcacies OF the season, presenting a
bill of fare of rare excellence, including
all the essentials necessary to render
the occasion in the highest degree
llcasuable.
After the first courses were over the
glasses were filled, and tOasts were an
nouncod as the order.
The regular toasts were as follows:
l. Grand Lodge Of Virginia: Faith
ful TO duty, constant in practice, she
ever lives brilliant conception OF
Masonic love and charity.
Responded to ty Major Mann Page,
the only representative Of the Grand
Lodge present..
,. Elandlord Lodge, 10. 3 True
TO all Obligations, may she ever remain
"a bright aud guiding star II the Ma
sonic heavens.
responded to by y. N. J. c. Armi-
stead.
B. Petersburg Lodge, No Is: Age
cannot impair nor time destroy the
grand principles OF Free Masonry as
taught 10y her mother lodge.
RESPONDED to 10y Brother George ".
Hail.
/. Prince George odge. No. rs:
In all Der acts She iui'y cScmphlies the
truth Of Sacred Writ: ASK and IT
shall he given. seek and We shall inl,
knock and 1t shall be opened unto
you" -
3. Powhatan Stalke Lodge, No. 12t
May her heart never conceive nor her
eyes reveal aueht but what is good Tor
the craft in general.
Responded TO by P. NJ. I. G. Wat
kins.
6. Dinwiddie Lodge, No. 1876: Faith,
HOPE, and Charity beautifully exempll-
fed by every word aud deed in all her
dealings with mankind.
+. Brandon Lodge No. 1872 May
its usefulness never be impaired, but
by mecept and example continue to
teach the pToiane the beauties OF our
order.
s. Masonic Fraternity: Wherer we
90, wher'or We turn-in every coun-
Try, sect, or Opinion-a Mason can be
found, end as unbOunded should Ma
sons charity be-
9. The Press The scOurge OF the
wrong.doer, the defender OF the limo
cent, the champion of truth.
10. Mine Host A worthy son Of the |
Faiherland may his shadow never
grow less.
Responded TO by Mr.. Julius Lie
bert.
Numberless volunteer tossts were OF
fered end responses made, and festivi |
l. IL l-.r-r.